Drive your own team on our most remote expedition which takes you from the heart of Lapland to Europe’s northernmost point; The North Cape by the Arctic Ocean. During a 600km long journey you will mush through Sweden, Finland and Norway and experience some of the finest attractions in Arctic Lapland. The 13-day program ends with a full day onboard the legendary Hurtigruten cruise liner heading for the Norwegian city of Tromsø.
Day 1
This program begins at Kiruna Airport where we greet our guests upon their arrival to the magic world 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. After a short transfer of about thirty minutes we reach the village of Poikkijärvi where the Fjellborg family live together with their big pack of friendly huskies. Beautifully situated in the snow clad pine forest overlooking the magnificent Torne River, the Homestead is an ideal gateway to the vast wilderness of Arctic Lapland.
Your visit to the Fjellborg Homestead will begin with a welcome lunch during which we will present the tour itinerary. After lunch you will change into expedition gear and meet your own team of sled dogs. Before departure you will receive instructions on how to handle and care for your dogs, your sled and other equipment.
Our first leg of our journey we mush from the Homestead in Poikkijärvi to Fjellborg Arctic Journeys comfortable Wilderness Lodge, situated by Lake Väkkärä, 15 km away. When we reach the Wilderness Lodge our dogs are treated to a well deserved rest in their private doghouses, which you will help fill up with fresh straw before enjoying a relaxing wood heated sauna. In the evening we enjoy a delicious dinner in the main cabin. On the first night of our expedition many of us find it hard to sleep as we are excited about the major journey that lies ahead.
Day 2
After breakfast we feed and water the dogs, repack our sleds and hit the trail. On the second day of our expedition we travel in an easterly direction along a stretch of the newly established Arctic Trail which connects Sweden with Finland and Russia. Our destination is the village of Soppero which is a small agricultural community with a permanent population of around two hundred. Our hosts for the evening, Britt-Marie and Per-Nils Päiviö, live in a traditional homestead on the shore of the Lainio River. Mrs Päiviö will introduce us to past and present Sami traditions and welcome us to visit their small-scale Sami museum. The Päiviö family are reindeer owners and during our visit we will have the chance to learn about this semi-domesticated deer which is the cornerstone of Sami society.
Day 3
The next morning we enjoy breakfast in the Päiviö lodge before feeding our four-legged friends. After repacking our sleds it is time for departure. Today we will travel in a north-easterly direction to the village of Karesuando which lies on the border between Sweden and Finland. Karesuando is the name of the two villages on both sides of the Muonio River but the Swedish side is more developed and most Finns do their daily shopping in Sweden. In this part of Swedish Lapland, most people speak both Finnish and Swedish and there is also a thriving Sami community with Sami as their native tongue. Our accommodation for the night is the Karesuando Camping.
Day 4
After breakfast for dogs and drivers we return to the trail. Today we will head north, spending the first part of our journey in Finland and the second part in Norway. The trail leads through snowy pine forests and across frozen mires and as we cross the border into Norway we enter a more barren terrain often frequented by large herds of reindeer.
Today’s destination is the town of Kautokeino which is an important cultural centre for the Sami people of northern Norway. The Kautokeino borough has a population of 3 000 people and over 100 000 reindeer. 85% of the population has Sami as their first language and 1/3 work with the reindeer which is also the borough’s main industry. Kautokeino is a centre for research and education and boasts several attractions. In the Kautokeino Museum we can learn about the cultural history of the Sami people and in the famous Juhl’s Silver gallery, also known as the Oasis of the Mountain Plain, we can admire silver jewellery and handicrafts from all over the world. The silver gallery is an architectonic jewel in itself and a visit there is a truly surprising experience. In Kautokeino we stay at Kautokeino Vildmarkssenter. N.B. During days of hard winds and difficult sledding conditions an extra night between Karesuando and Kautokeino may be required. In this case we will sleep in weather-proof tents along the trail.
Day 5
The next morning we enjoy a big breakfast before feeding our dogs. After repacking our sleds we depart from Kautokeino following the Kautokeino River for 35km before heading out in a north-easterly direction. During the fifth leg of our expedition we sled through a low fell terrain. Our destination is the Láhppoluoppal Mountain Hut which is a wilderness shelter equipped with cooking facilities and basic sleeping quarters. Here we will warm up by the fireplace and tend to the dogs before preparing our own dinner.
Day 6
After a good night’s sleep in the mountain hut we make breakfast for ourselves and our dogs and prepare for the next leg of our journey. Today we will continue northwards and during part of the day we will mush along the Iešjohka River in the direction of Mollesjok. In this windswept terrain only the dwarf birch is resilient enough to survive. This leg covers approximately 50km. In Mollesjok our accommodation is provided in a staffed cabin.
Day 7
A week into our expedition we have covered two thirds of our journey and are now travelling through a part of Norway called Finnmark. This region is the home of Finnmarksløpet which is Europe’s longest sled dog race and the world’s northernmost. Every year in March around 800 huskies compete in the race which is considered a very tough one due to the often demanding weather and trail conditions. The seventh leg of our expedition covers approx 45 km and we begin our journey sledding trough a hilly terrain before heading out on the ice of the large Lake Iešjávri. After crossing the lake our trail climbs towards Jotka Mountain Hut which is our accommodation for the night. This is a staffed wilderness cabin where we enjoy a good meal and a hot sauna.
Day 8
Feeling refreshed after last evening’s sauna we hit the trails with renewed energy. Today the trail takes us through a magnificent mountain terrain well above the tree line. During good weather conditions this leg of our journey offers a very scenic ride. After a few hours of mushing we will begin looking for a suitable place to spend the night. On this eight night of our expedition we will camp in the wilderness, experiencing the great outdoors at its best. After setting up camp we melt snow for the dogs and cook ourselves dinner under the starry Arctic sky. As darkness settles we will relax comfortable inside our weather-proof tents, staying warm in our sleeping bags which are placed on top of thick reindeer hides.
Day 9
We wake up early in the morning and after breakfast we set off in a north-westerly direction. Today we will sled approx 50km in a more difficult mountain terrain which demands a bit more from both dogs and drivers. Our destination is Skaidi, “the place where the rivers meet”. Skaidi is a popular area for skiing, ice fishing and snowmobile excursions. As we approach Skaidi the trail descents into a lower birch forest terrain. Skaidi has few inhabitants but offer travellers the facilities of an inn, the Skaidikroa which serves Norwegian home fare, and a hotel where we spend the night.
Day 10
As we leave Skaidi behind our trail yet again climbs above the tree line. We enter a wild mountain terrain where the air carries a scent of the Arctic Ocean. After many days of travelling through a white landscape, the sudden appearance of the vast blue Arctic Ocean is an impressive sight. Today’s destination is the coastal village of Repvåg where we will stay at the Repvåg Fjord Hotel and Rorbuer. The scenery and atmosphere of this coastal community is very different from everything we have previously experienced.
Day 11
On our final day of sledding we load dogs and gear onboard a ship that takes us from Repvåg to the village of Skarsvåg on the island of Magerøya where we continue our journey by dogsled. Skarsvåg is a thriving fishing community and the local fishermen are known to bring home some of the world’s largest crabs. The distance between Skarsvåg and the North Cape is only 15 km and the final leg of our journey is also the shortest.
In the afternoon we celebrate our arrival in North Cape with a glass of champagne. Few people have made this remarkable journey from the heart of Lapland to the northernmost point of Europe and we feel like true pioneers as we secure our dogs to enjoy a bit of local sightseeing. The North Cape Cliff has long been an important navigation mark for ships on the Arctic Ocean and Knivskjelodden, situated at 71° North, is Europe’s northernmost point.
In the afternoon we sled back to Skarsvåg where we say farewell to our amazing dogs that have made this unique expedition possible. The dogs are well taken care of by our handlers and receive a comfortable journey back to the Homestead in Poikkijärvi while we spend the night at the comfortable Rica Bryggen Hotel.
Day 12
At 6.00 a.m. we depart from Honningsvåg on the legendary Hurtigruten cruise liner. During an exciting full day at sea we experience the amazing Arctic Ocean and Norway’s beautiful northern coast and archipelago. On our voyage the Hurtigruten stops at four ports of call (Havøysund, Hammerfest, Øksfjord and Skjervøy) before we arrive at our destination - the lively city of Tromsø. Around midnight we check into the centrally located and comfortable Rica Ishavshotel.
Day 13
After breakfast we head out to explore this inviting coastal city. Tromsø boasts a population of 63 000 and is home to the Norwegian Polar Institute and the University of Tromsø. The city’s urban mountain panorama is truly spectacular and thanks to its rich café and social life Tromsø has been nicknamed the ’Paris of the North’. Besides the impressive scenery, among the attractions in Tromsø is the Polaria activity centre, which explores themes related to the Polar Regions, and the unique Arctic Cathedral. There are many attractions in and around Tromsø and while our expedition has now come to an end participants can choose to add a few extra days to their Arctic holiday by staying in the city at their own expense. Guests who are departing on Day 13 receive a transfer to the airport.
Tour Info:
This demanding 13-day expedition is suitable for experienced mushers looking for an adventure of a lifetime. Weather conditions in the alpine regions of Arctic Lapland can sometimes be tough, especially during strong winds. Guests must be capable of sledding in these conditions and to provide good care of our dogs during all circumstances. N.B. During days of hard winds and difficult sledding conditions an extra night between Karesuando and Kautokeino may be required. In this case we will sleep in weather-proof tents along the trail.
Price: 78590 SEK per person.
Min Persons: 4
Max Persons: We welcome large groups!
Departure Date: 10th of April.
Fee includes:
Transfer from Kiruna Airport to Homestead, Arctic expedition clothing and mushing gear, all meals including beverage, all accommodations, the services of Fjellborg Arctic Journeys staff, individual dog teams, return boat transfer from Repsvåg to Skarsvåg, day cruise on the Hurtigruten and transfer to Tromsø Airport for guests departing
